Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-06-08
THANKS TO A BURGLAR

Nobody had ever been able to dis
cover exactly why Madge Palliser was
so irresistible. Her eyes were small,
her nose was an undeniable pug, and
the thick masses OF her curly hair were
always tumbhng down untidlly beyond
the power OF combs and halrpins to
restrain. Even the warm color that
came and went IN her cheeks and the
dimDla in her chin were hardly enough
to redeem her from being hopelessly
plain; aud yet every man who ap-
preached her became her abject slave
IN four and-twenty hours, and In
twice that time had offered her his
heart and hand. But then he could
not tell wherein her fascination lay.
He only knew that she was beyond all
comparison the most bewitching, be-
wildering, lovable little damsel in the
world.
Last spring, when she married
Thomas FoGterall, after 8 brief en-
gagement, there was nine days Won
der.
That gentleman, the most desirable
parti Of the season, CT lrreproachable
social position, and with g. mine OF
wealth In government bonds, had
never been observed to pay her the
slightest attention. How, when and
where their courtship was carried on
was 8 problem over which society
puzzled its small brains in vain, for
no one could recollecG q single &C.
casi0n when Mr.. Fo6terail could pos
sibly have had a chance to put the
momentous question to his lovely
bride. Indeed, the lady herself, on
being rallied at the wedding breakfast,
laughiDgly declared that Tommy had
never proposed to her at all, g. state
ment TO which her lord and master
assanted with demure enjoyment OF
every body's surprise at such g. singu-
lar revelation.
O1Iy Sally GOrham knew the whole
history, AID she, strange to say, was
wise and discreet enough TO hold her
tongue and laugh with the dramatis
persoDse st the general mystification
OF the world. But now that Sally
and I have made up, and decided to
follow the good example set rs by
MaGqe and Tommy, there are no Sc
crets between US. While We were wan
dering along the cliffs at Newport
week before last, she told me the
story which proved SO interesting that
am about 80 divu!ge i5 TO the public,
providing the public Will listen, learn,
and forever afterwards hold their
peace.
It was the end Of April. The Cor
hams had gone out TO their country
seat at Penn Rhyn much earlier in the
season than usual, and as it was in
toIerably dull with nothing IN the
world 10 DC, they had asked s. dozen
oil
sorts Of unconventional frolics. Sal
" had three or four charming buds
for her guests, among them Madge
Palliser; her brother Jack had
brought several willing victims from
the club, and the cid Van Coovers
came to a1nuse papa and mamma
Gorham and keep them out Of mis-
chisf with sn innocent rubber OF whist
in the chimney corner o'nights.
There were great gOlngs- on, as Uncle
Moses, the gardener, said, with dis
couraged shake Of his Woolly head.
Tennis playing in the morning, riding
parties IN the afternoon, and in the
evening Virginia reels and Cali the
way to Boston" IN the long drawing
room, with laughing, singing, and not
little hIrtingfrom dawn to darkness.
Eadee was the blithest Of the blithe.
All the men adored her openly, save
and except Thomas F'otterall, Esq,
who never worshiped publicly at her
shrine, though he often watched her
furtlvely from afar Of with something
more than ordinary interest in his
half shut eyes. Her merry, arch,
sweet hearted ways made their unfail-
ing impression Or his soul, and it was
hardly TO be imagined that Miss Pal
User was ignorant OF the havoc her
charms were working in that manly
breast. Outwardiy, however, there
was cot the slightest symptom OF an
affair. MaGge rode, danced and CO.
oue6tad with every cavalier but one;
and that one devoted himself with an
assumed interest TO sbarp-tongued
Sally, who privately considered him @
greater bore than the HoOsac Tunnel.
One night, when the week OF gayety
at Penn Rhyn was nearly over, the
whole party was sitting about a roar
ing fire IN the hall, for the spring even
ings were apt TO be cool, testing and
making merry after their custom.
Old DIR. Van Coover, who had been
pouring over that mildly exciting
Journal, the Penn Rhyn Gazette, sud-
denly astonished the assembly by a.
singular snort which might have ex-
pressed almost any emotion from de.
light TO horror, and, casting away his
newspaper, cried cut in tones of dis
may:
burglars! there are burglars about
in the village! They have already
visited the Standishes and the Cor
kendiIla, and got away with quantity
ofplunder, and it'll be your turn next,
Gorham, mark my words | say,
Mrs. Van Coover, you haven't
brought the family emeralds along,
have you"
The amiable Mrs. Van Coover shiv-
cred preceptibly, but soon recovered
herself and replied tartly:
AsJams,, you're fool! Don't you